University of Tennessee Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Chris Ogden, a former Final Four team captain under coach Rick Barnes and a longtime member of Barnes’ Texas basketball staff, is in his second year as an assistant coach at Tennessee.
Prior to coming to Tennessee in March of 2015, Ogden served the previous seven seasons as an assistant coach under Barnes and was on the Longhorns’ staff for a total of 12 years, also serving for four seasons as an administrative assistant with the program.
During his tenure as a full-time assistant, Ogden helped his alma mater to a 155-87 record, and the Longhorns advanced to the NCAA Tournament six times.
Ogden was instrumental in signing six McDonald's All-Americans over the last seven seasons (Avery Bradley in 2009; Cory Joseph in 2010; Tristan Thompson in 2010; Myck Kabongo in 2011; Cameron Ridley in 2012 and Myles Turner in 2014).
Ogden has had a hand in assembling five recruiting classes that were ranked in the top 10 nationally by ESPN.
Texas' three-man recruiting class in 2014 featured McDonald's All-American Turner (No. 2 recruit by ESPN), No. 86-ranked prospect Jordan Barnett and transfer Shaquille Cleare, who was rated the No. 30 prospect in 2012 by ESPN. Texas' six-man freshman class in 2012 was ranked No. 4 nationally by ESPN, and its six-man freshman class in 2011 was tabbed the No. 4 recruiting class in the country by ESPN. Despite a group that numbered only two, Texas' class of Joseph and Thompson in 2010 was ranked as the No. 8 recruiting class nationally by ESPN. Texas' three-man freshman class in 2009 was ranked No. 3 nationally by Rivals.com and No. 4 by ESPNU and included Bradley, the top-rated recruit in the country by ESPNU.
Texas climbed to the top of both major national polls on Jan. 11, 2010, marking the first time in program history that the Longhorns had been the top-ranked team in the country in either major poll.
Ogden helped guide Texas to a school-record 31 wins in a season in 2007-08. In 2006-07, using a starting rotation of four freshmen and a sophomore, the Horns posted a 25-10 mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. And in 2005-06, Texas registered a 30-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
Ogden has coached seven players who have gone on have their name called in the NBA Draft, including five first-rounders.
Three Texas players were selected in the first round of the NBA Draft in 2011--the second consecutive year three Longhorns had been drafted. Thompson was taken with the No. 4 pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jordan Hamilton was picked No. 26 by Dallas (then traded to Denver), and Cory Joseph was taken with the No. 29 pick by the San Antonio Spurs.
In 2010, Texas' three draftees were Bradley (No. 19 pick by the Boston Celtics), Damion James (No. 24 pick by the Atlanta Hawks) and Dexter Pittman (No. 32 pick by the Miami Heat).
In the 2015 draft, the Indiana Pacers selected Turner with the 11th overall pick, making the 6-11 center the fifth frontcourt player that Ogden has helped mold into an NBA talent.
Chris Ogden, along with his wife, Katie, and their children, Bo, Ellie and Parker.
In his role as the Longhorns' administrative assistant, Ogden supervised film exchange and played a major role in summer camp administration while also assisting with all of the basketball program's internal operations.
Ogden played four years (2000-03) at forward for the Longhorns and was a member of four NCAA Tournament teams, reaching the Final Four as a senior captain. He completed his career at Texas with more team victories than any player in program history (97).
The team captain as a senior during the run to the 2003 Final Four, Ogden played in 85 career games--including three starts--and totaled 144 points, 88 rebounds and 40 assists. He earned the team's Jay Arnette Award as a junior in 2001-02, an honor given to a player for behind-the-scenes efforts and contributions to the team.
Following his collegiate player career, he joined the Texas basketball staff as a student assistant coach for one year while he completed his undergraduate degree. Ogden was responsible for making personnel, team and post-game edits and supervised the film exchange process in that role. He earned a bachelor's of science degree in education in 2004.
A native of Seminole, Texas, Ogden played four years of varsity basketball at Seminole High School. He was crowned the state of Texas' "Mr. Basketball" following his a senior season in 1998-99. That year, he averaged 17.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game while leading SHS to a 36-4 record and a runner-up finish in the Class 3A state tournament.
Ogden and his wife, Katie, have three children: Bo, Ellie and Parker.
